Pezzer catheter



March 7, 1944. R cH 2,343,579

PEZZAR CATHETER Original Filed March 9, 1937 A TORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1944 PEZZER CATHETER Paul A. Raiche, Providence, R. 1., assignor to Davol Rubber Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Original application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,828. Divided and this application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,669

2 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application, Ser. No. 129,828 Pat. No. 2,259,- 488 entitled Catheters and the like.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of hollow rubber articles, and has particular reference to the manufacture of one-piece catheters of the Pezzer type.

The Pezzer type catheters are of the self-retaining type, with an enlarged button at the end having drainage openings or eyes, and are used during bladder and similar operations for flushing and drainage. These catheters have heretofore been made of several pieces, cemented and seamed together, the joined parts being placed in a mold and cured by the blown method. Since the catheter must be stretched to reduce the size of the button to allow for easy introduction and removal, there is a resultant strain on the seams for the parts, and particularly in the base of the button, and grave danger of separaa tion during the introduction and removal.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a unitary catheter construction.

It is a further object of my invention to provide strengthening means for preventing breakage of the catheter tip during the stretching of the catheter.

An additional object of my invention is to simplify the manufacture of catheters and the like, whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced and the price to the user lowered.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention comprises a novel article, more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel onepiece catheter;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively plan and end views of the novel former, parts being broken away in the plan view;

Fig. 5 is a section of the catheter after forming, showing the method of removal of the former parts;

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the initial forming steps for the tip;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a reinforcing cap; and

Fig. 8 is a detail enlarged section of the completed tip, showing the reinforcing cap integrally imbedded therein.

In the drawing, the novel catheter I0 includes an elongated tubular length H, a funnel-shaped, inlet cone l2, and a button Id of relatively large width, the button having a tip l4 and drainage eyes l5 communicating with the hollow interior of the catheter, which forms a flow passageway IB. In forming the catheter, a former H such as illustrated in Fig. 3 is used, having a base l8 and a removable or detachable top I 9, the top having a socket 20 and the base a pin 2| insertable therein, the shape of the former being identical with the desired interior catheter outline.

With the former assembled as shown in Fig. 3, it is dipped into a solution of rubber or rubber compound, either natural or synthetic, in an evaporatable vehicle, the preferred solution being of latex, until the catheter has been built up by successive clippings, and is then cured on the form; pro-cured rubber solution may be used if desired. The rubber catheter is then removed from the form as indicated in Fig. 5, by withdrawing the base IS. The eyes l5 may then be formed by cutting out or in any desired manner, or may if preferred be formed while the base is still in the catheter. In either case, the base being removed, the top I9 is then removed by stretching one of the eyes I 5 to permit passage of the top therethrough, whereby the completed catheter is then obtained as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, the tip I 4 of the catheter may be reinforced, as this tip is engaged by the end of an elongated pin which is used for stretching the catheter during insertion and withdrawal. A preferred manner of reinforcing the tip is to initially coat the form so as to obtain a thin coating as indicated in; Fig. 6, and to then position a reinforcing cap 22 of any suitable material, preferably textile, over the thinly coated tip, the coating then being continued until the tip is completed, as shown in enlarged form in Fig. 8, whereby the reinforcing cap 22 is imbedded in the tip 14 as an integral part thereof.

The novel catheter is thus formed as an integral article, without seams or weak portions, and with a reinforced tip, whereby a more effective article is more readily manufactured, with a resulting decrease in the cost of manufacture and in the price to the purchaser.

I have described a method of manufacture which is particularly suitable for the formation of an integral Pezzer catheter, but the same method may be employed for the manufacture of any hollow rubber article which has one closed end of larger section than the main body. Any desired shape of the former parts, or changes piece by dipping, the end of the button having a reinforcing cap imbedded therein by mounting the cap on the button end between successive dips, said button having a drainage eye.

2. A one-piece Pezzer catheter of flexible material having an integral shank and button, the end of said button having a reinforcing cap imbedded therein between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said button having a drainage eye.

PAUL A. RAICHE. 

